Grifols opens state-of-the-art facility in Clayton, NC to help advance treatment of rare and life-threatening diseases

Grifols opens state-of-the-art facility in Clayton, NC to help advance
treatment of rare and life-threatening diseases
- Representing over a $370 million capital investment, the new 155,000
square-foot facility will be host to 200+ employees, one of the largest
capital projects in Johnston County, NC history and will contribute to Grifols
retaining 2,300 jobs statewide
- Grifols' North Fractionation Facility will be the world's largest and one of
the most technologically advanced plasma fractionation facilities, increasing
production capacity in Clayton from 3.2 million liters of plasma annually to 6
million liters in 2015
PR Newswire
BARCELONA, Spain, June 17, 2014
BARCELONA, Spain, June 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --Today, Grifols (MCE:GRF,
MCE:GRF.P and NASDAQ:GRFS), a leader in the production of plasma-derived
medicines, celebrated the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art North
Fractionation Facility (NFF) in Clayton, NC, where production capacity of
plasma will almost double to approximately 6 million liters annually. Grifols'
products are used to treat rare, chronic diseases such as a neurological
disorder, immune deficiencies, hemophilia and genetic emphysema.
NFF will be fully operational in 2015 with over 200 employees. Grifols is the
largest private employer in Johnston County, NC with 1,650 employees and a
total of 2,300 statewide, including a corporate office in Research Triangle
Park, NC. Grifols also has a corporate office and manufacturing facilities in
Los Angeles, CA, testing labs in San Marcos and Austin, TX and 150 plasma
donation centers across the United States. Additionally, the company has
manufacturing facilities in San Francisco, CA producing antigens for
immunological diagnostics, as well as the Grifols Academy of Plasmapheresis, a
world-class education and training facility headquartered in Glendale, AZ. In
total, Grifols employs over 9,600 people in the US, representing approximately
73% of its 13,200 employees worldwide.
"As a leading healthcare company, one of Grifols' main goals since being
founded in the 1940's has been to advance the plasma industry. Today, I take
great pride in our pioneering spirit that has allowed us to build the world's
largest and one of the most innovative plants producing plasma medicines. The
donors who make our life-saving therapies possible, along with all Grifols
employees, share my passion for the patients that we continue to serve," said
Victor Grifols, President and CEO of Grifols.
In addition, Mr. Grifols remarked that "choosing North Carolina for this
facility is not a coincidence by any means. The US has always represented one
of our most important markets, both past and present. Our investment of more
than $7 billion since 2001 in this country demonstrates our long-term
commitment to growth."
"It is my pleasure to congratulate Grifols on the grand opening of its new
plasma fractionation facility in Clayton," said Congressman Mike McIntyre.
"This state-of-the-art plant is the largest of its kind in the world and
represents a strong $370 million investment in Johnston County. The 200
employees who will work at the facility when fully operational will help
ensure the availability of life-saving plasma-derived medicines for patients
around the world. Grifols' 2,300 employees across North Carolina are a
testament to the company's well-established commitment to our state."
NFF was recently named the 2014 Facility of the Year for Project Execution by
the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). The 155,000
square-foot facility features technologically advanced systems and processes
to ensure the highest standards of product quality and high production
capacity in plasma fractionation.
Fractionation is the first step in the production of plasma-derived therapies,
which involves subjecting plasma to various changes of temperature and
chemical conditions, causing each of the proteins with therapeutic properties
to separate out. These proteins have to be purified and formulated before they
can be used as medicines. The medicines manufactured by Grifols from plasma
include immunoglobulin, for the treatment of primary immune deficiency and a
neurological disorder called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
(CIDP), factor VIII, for the treatment of hemophilia A, albumin, to
re-establish and maintain blood volume and alpha-1 antitrypsin for the
treatment of genetic emphysema.
The facility opening was attended by state, national and international
dignitaries, as well as Grifols executive management and North Carolina
employees. Grifols President and CEO Victor Grifols and Greg Rich, CEO of
Grifols Inc., accompanied guests on a tour of the new facility, which included
the President of the Government of Catalonia, Artur Mas; Pat McCrory, Governor
of North Carolina; Jody L. McLeod, Mayor of Clayton, NC; His Excellency Ramon
Gil-Casares, Spanish Ambassador to the United States; and Sergi Mingote, Mayor
of Parets del Vallès, Barcelona, where Grifols has one of its three
manufacturing plants for plasma fractionation.
Grifols will allocate more than 600 million Euros to manufacturing facilities
between 2014 and 2016
Grifols' presence in the United States is consolidated. Actually, sales in
North America totaled €1,708 million in 2013, representing 62.3% of the
turnover of the company.
In addition, the US is one of the main recipient countries of Grifols'
investments. Since 2001, the company has invested more than $7 billion in the
US, including both capital expenditures (CAPEX) and strategic acquisitions
that have resulted in the company accounting for approximately 20%[1] of the
global plasma therapies market, in addition to leading other complementary
business areas, such as transfusion medicine.
The $370 million invested in NFF at its Clayton facility is included in the
Capital Investment Plan (CAPEX) for the period 2012-2014. In addition, organic
growth continues and new investments are planned to expand and increase
Grifols' production facilities in both Spain and the United States. In fact,
Grifols plans to allocate approximately €600 million to capital expenditures
between 2014 and 2016.
A substantial portion of the investment plan will go towards the expansion of
the albumin purification plants in Los Angeles, CA and Clayton, NC, and also
towards a new warehouse at Clayton´s complex, while construction of the new
alpha-1 antitrypsin purification area in the Parets del Vallès (Barcelona)
complex is one of the much highlighted projects in Spain.
About Grifols
Grifols is a global healthcare company with a 70-year legacy of improving
people's health and well being through the development of life-saving plasma
medicines, diagnostics systems, and hospital pharmacy products.
The company is present in more than 100 countries worldwide and is
headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. Grifols is a leader in plasma collection
with a network of 150 plasma donor centers in the U.S., and a leading producer
of plasma-derived biological medicines. The company also provides a
comprehensive range of transfusion medicine, hemostasis, and immunoassay
solutions for clinical laboratories, blood banks and transfusion centers, and
is a recognized leader in transfusion medicine.
In 2013, sales exceeded 2,740 million euros with a headcount of 13,200
employees. Grifols demonstrates its commitment to advancing healthcare by
allocating a significant portion of its annual income to R&D.
The company's class A shares are listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange, where
they are part of the Ibex-35 (MCE:GRF). Its non-voting class B shares are
listed on the Mercado Continuo (MCE:GRF.P) and on the U.S. NASDAQ via ADRs
(NASDAQ: GRFS). For more information on Grifols and its facilities, please
visit www.grifols.com.
[1] Source: Market Research Bureau (MRB) - The Worldwide Plasma Proteins
Market 2012
SOURCE Grifols
Website: http://www.grifols.com
Contact: Katie Franklin, North America, Cell: 302-690-0355,
Katie@finnpartners.com, or Raquel Lumbreras, Spain - International, Cell: +34
659 57 21 85, Raquel_lumbreras@duomocomunicacion.com